The Congress finds that it is in the national security interest of the United States—

((1)) to facilitate, on a priority basis—

((A)) the transportation, storage, safeguarding, and destruction of nuclear and other weapons of the independent states of the former Soviet Union, including the safe and secure storage of fissile materials, dismantlement of missiles and launchers, and the elimination of chemical and biological weapons capabilities;

((B)) the prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their components and destabilizing conventional weapons of the independent states of the former Soviet Union, and the establishment of verifiable safeguards against the proliferation of such weapons;

((C)) the prevention of diversion of weapons-related scientific expertise of the former Soviet Union to terrorist groups or third countries; and

((D)) other efforts designed to reduce the military threat from the former Soviet Union;

((2)) to support the demilitarization of the massive defense-related industry and equipment of the independent states of the former Soviet Union and conversion of such industry and equipment to civilian purposes and uses; and

((3)) to expand military-to-military contacts between the United States and the independent states of the former Soviet Union.